Hey, Good Game

Daniel Tait, a prolific indie game developer behind hits like Mathler and CrossWordle, shares his journey from childhood tinkering to industry success. He discusses using AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance gameplay, emphasizes the value of rapid prototyping, and reveals his unique game launch strategies leveraging Hacker News and Reddit. Daniel highlights the creative balance between personal enjoyment and engaging the community, along with how domain names can inspire game concepts. His latest project, WordNerd.co, aims to unite word game enthusiasts.

Gabe Cornish, a seasoned game creator with over 40 published titles, shares his journey navigating the game industry. He emphasizes the thrill of making games regularly for fun rather than profit. Gabe advocates for embracing imperfection and exploring freeware development for sustainability. He discusses balancing personal projects with career challenges, highlighting the importance of community and innovative monetization strategies like Patreon. His insights inspire a carefree and passionate approach to game development.

Eric Albaest, co-founder and CEO of Chess.com, shares his journey from e-commerce to revolutionizing online chess. He reveals how the platform grew to 5-10 million daily players thanks to strategic community engagement and media integration. The huge surge in popularity, particularly after Netflix’s "The Queen's Gambit," is discussed alongside the psychological dynamics of chess. Albaest emphasizes the importance of balancing content and product while exploring how streaming has driven Chess.com's phenomenal growth.

Cassidy Williams, a developer and co-founder of Cosigned and Contenda, dives into her journey creating Jumblie, a word game inspired by coding challenges. She shares insights from her time in Spain and her unique experience as a college mascot. The conversation touches on her love for board games, the challenges of puzzle editing, and the importance of balancing creativity with technology. Cassidy discusses the influence of AI in gaming and recounts her innovative approach to game design, alongside humorous anecdotes from her internship days.

Peter Mohrbacher, creator of Angelarium and an acclaimed fantasy artist, shares his insights on the art world. He argues that success stems from 'creative selfishness'—making art for oneself rather than external validation. Mohrbacher discusses the challenges of balancing art with business, the impact of social media on creativity, and the nuances of crowdfunding. He also dives into the complexities of navigating scams in the creative landscape and explores his upcoming tabletop RPG project, highlighting the importance of authenticity in artistic endeavors.

Greg Karber, creator of the hit puzzle game Murdle, discusses balancing game mechanics and storytelling, influences on game creation, and monetization strategies. He shares the journey from a simple puzzle to a bestselling book series and daily online game. Topics include evolving chess gameplay, creating viral puzzle games, and avoiding personal glorification in game development.

Game designer Cole Medeiros shares insights on designing board games for different audiences, collaborating on Stardew Valley: The Board Game, and balancing creativity with business in game development. From childhood creations to major titles, his journey showcases the impact of personal passion in successful game creation.

Guest Zach Gage, a renowned game designer, discusses creating unique digital puzzles like Good Sudoku and Really Bad Chess. He shares insights into his creative process, challenges in game design, and building Puzzmo.com. Exploring his artistic family background, innovative game examples, and balancing business with creativity.

Jim Horne, creator of Microsoft FreeCell and xwordinfo.com, shares his journey from early programming to developing FreeCell for Windows. He discusses his time at Microsoft, including interactions with Steve Ballmer. Jim highlights the unsolvable nature of FreeCell and his recent game collaboration,

Tracy Fullerton discusses creating 'Walden,' blending philosophy with gameplay, challenges of game development, mentorship in game design, and the importance of emotional experience goals and diverse voices in the industry.